A heat sink includes a blower located in the heat sink and a plurality of fins extending from a periphery of the blower toward a perimeter of the heat sink. The plurality of fins define a plurality of channels each having a channel inlet located at the blower and a channel exit located at the perimeter of the heat sink. The plurality of channels vary in length around the perimeter of the heat sink A velocity of an air flow from the blower at each channel inlet is substantially equal for each channel of the plurality of channels, and a total pressure drop from the channel inlet to the channel exit is substantially equal for each channel of the plurality of channels.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A heat sink comprising: a blower disposed in the heat sink; and a plurality of fins extending from a periphery of the blower toward a perimeter of the heat sink, the plurality of fins defining a plurality of channels each having a channel inlet disposed at the blower and a channel exit disposed at the perimeter of the heat sink, the plurality of channels varying in length around the perimeter of the heat sink; wherein a velocity of an air flow from the blower at each channel inlet is substantially equal for each channel of the plurality of channels, and a total pressure drop from the channel inlet to the channel exit is substantially equal for each channel of the plurality of channels, a first channel of the plurality of channels having a first length has a first width along its length different than a second width of a second channel of the plurality of channels having a second length different from the first length, the first width and the second width constant along the first length and the second length.
2. The heat sink of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of channels vary in width to cool a non-uniform heat flux.
3. The heat sink of claim 1 , wherein the width of the plurality of channels is varied by varying a distance between adjacent fins.
4. The heat sink of claim 1 , wherein the width of the plurality of channels is varied by varying a fin thickness of the plurality of fins.
5. The heat sink of claim 1 , wherein a position of a channel inlet relative to the blower is varied to equalize the total pressure drop.
6. The heat sink of claim 1 , wherein the blower is a centrifugal blower.
7. The heat sink of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of channels are arranged on a non-circular plan-form.
8. An electronics package comprising: an enclosure; one or more electronics components disposed in the enclosure; and a heat sink disposed in proximity to the one or more electronics components to cool the one or more electronics components, the heat sink including: a blower disposed in the heat sink; and a plurality of fins extending from a periphery of the blower toward a perimeter of the heat sink, the plurality of fins defining a plurality of channels each having a channel inlet disposed at the blower and a channel exit disposed at the perimeter of the heat sink, the plurality of channels varying in length around the perimeter of the heat sink; wherein a velocity of an air flow from the blower at each channel inlet is substantially equal for each channel of the plurality of channels, and a total pressure drop from the channel inlet to the channel exit is substantially equal for each channel of the plurality of channels, a first channel of the plurality of channels having a first length has a first width along its length different than a second width of a second channel of the plurality of channels having a second length different from the first length, the first width and the second width constant along the first length and the second length.
9. The electronics package of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of channels vary in width to cool a non-uniform heat flux.
10. The electronics package of claim 8 , wherein the width of the plurality of channels is varied by varying a distance between adjacent fins.
11. The electronics package of claim 8 , wherein the width of the plurality of channels is varied by varying a fin thickness of the plurality of fins.
12. The electronics package of claim 8 , wherein a position of a channel inlet relative to the blower is varied to equalize the total pressure drop.
13. The electronics package of claim 8 , wherein the one or more electronics components includes a power converter.
14. The electronics package of claim 8 , wherein the heat sink is in contact with the one or more electronics components.
15. The electronics package of claim 8 , wherein the blower is a centrifugal blower.
16. The electronics package of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of channels are arranged on a non-circular plan-form.
17. A method of dissipating thermal energy from an electronics component comprising: locating a heat sink proximate to the electronics component, the heat sink including: a blower disposed in the heat sink; and a plurality of fins extending from a periphery of the blower toward a perimeter of the heat sink, the plurality of fins defining a plurality of channels each having a channel inlet disposed at the blower and a channel exit disposed at the perimeter of the heat sink, the plurality of channels varying in length around the perimeter of the heat sink, transferring thermal energy from the electronics component to the plurality of fins; urging an airflow from the blower into the plurality of channels at the channel inlets; flowing the airflow past the plurality of fins, thereby transferring thermal energy from the plurality of fins to the airflow; and flowing the airflow to a plurality of channel exits thereby dissipating the thermal energy; wherein a velocity of the air flow at the channel inlet is substantially equal for each channel of the plurality of channels, and a total pressure drop from the channel inlet to channel exit is substantially equal for each channel of the plurality of channels, a first channel of the plurality of channels having a first length has a first width along its length different than a second width of a second channel of the plurality of channels having a second length different from the first length, the first width and the second width constant along the first length and the second length.
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July 19, 2010
October 23, 2012
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